Massachusetts is an idyllic travel destination, from its highlands in the Berkshires to Cape Cod beaches. There is always something happening artistically here from museums to dance performances - Massachusetts offers something for every traveler in terms of art.
Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea are seaports that often spark our imagination as being places where fishing trawlers unload fish while whale-watching tour boats collect passengers; in addition they boast art galleries which will open this weekend.
Cape Ann
Cape Ann -- known as "the other cape" north of Boston with rugged cliffs, picturesque fishing villages and art galleries -- has long been an art magnet, drawing such luminaries as 20th-century painter Edward Hopper to 19th-century landscape artist Marsden Hartley. Gloucester and Rockport (home to Hopper's painting "Moonlight Over the Sea") served as summer art colonies that attracted Winslow Homer and Childe Hassam among many others.
Cape Ann continues to enjoy an artistic legacy; many painters, landscapers and writers continue to draw inspiration from its landscape, seascape and people. Additionally, this creative energy has given birth to museums, associations, galleries and schools - making Cape Ann one of Massachusetts' premier cultural destinations.
Local history is also an engaging topic. One devoted researcher, Mary Ellen Lepionka has made it her life's work to document pre-colonial Native American habitation of this area (with some notable exceptions) and share that knowledge with a larger audience. At Manchester Historical Museum she recently presented a talk entitled Wigwams on Sawmill Brook that brought a standing-room-only crowd.
Explore Cape Cod's rich maritime history on an excursion, taking tours of shipyards, harbors, and lighthouses. Also - anyone curious about exploring an extraordinary castle built by a scientist-inventor between 1920-1925 should definitely make time to visit Hammond Castle in Gloucester - visit Hammond Castle!
Cape Ann is renowned as an amazing foodie destination and fresh seafood stands out as particularly delectable. Be sure to stop at one of the numerous seafood restaurants for an amazing lobster roll and try one of Cape Ann's local specialties: fried clams.
Attractions to Cape Ann include filming locations of George Clooney's "The Perfect Storm", so fans should visit all of these spots where filming took place and enjoy some delicious New England clam chowder! A delicious end to an exciting day exploring all that this region offers.
Berkshires
Western Massachusetts Berkshires boast an air of sophistication belying their rural roots, making the western Massachusetts Berkshires a haven for culture vultures. Home to sophisticated small towns and college towns with great performance art galleries and fine museums; outdoor sports in mountains and state parks; antique trading communities; as well as the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Tanglewood residency and America's longest-running dance festival Jacob's Pillow (JP).
Visits to the Berkshires can be like entering a Norman Rockwell painting, with charming small-town mom-and-pop shops, boutiques, and antique stores interspersed with art galleries and chef-owned restaurants reminiscent of their idyllic charms reminiscent of days gone by in Boston and New York's Gilded Age, when Bostonians and New Yorkers would seek relief in its tranquil pine trees, verdant pastures and bucolic hills known as "Inland Newport."
ArtWeek Berkshires (2022) will transform the region into an explosion of activity and showcase its distinct blend of rustic beauty, cultural sophistication, and quintessential New England charm. Visitors to ArtWeek Berkshires (2022) can participate in over 120 experiences from small towns to larger cities like Pittsfield and Great Barrington; from gallery exhibitions and museum events to live music performances by orchestras, dance companies, chamber groups folk singers - even internationally acclaimed bluegrass band!
Exploring the Berkshires on foot, bike, or horseback is a fantastic way to gain an understanding of their beauty and serenity. A great place to start exploring is Great Barrington's Housatonic River Walk; here, visitors can stroll or run along an exquisite path between private homes and public space - an easy and relaxing way to take in what this region has to offer! It is especially enjoyable in July or August when crowds tend to thin out considerably.
Cape Cod
No matter if you live or visit Cape Cod, getting involved with its vibrant cultural life is simple and accessible to everyone. From museums and other educational attractions that offer educational experiences, to fun seasonal events like parades, craft fairs, culinary fests, sports competitions,, and more; getting engaged with its rich cultural life is easy.
Cultural Center of Cape Cod lives up to its motto "All the Arts for All of Us" through concerts, readings, dance parties, classes, receptions and exhibits. Furthermore, its Creative Place-Making program supports artists and other creatives by providing "launch space" that helps them express their gifts in the community.
This summer, Cape Cod is poised for another busy peak season. Hotel and short-term rental bookings have already reached 80% between mid-July and mid-August according to Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Niedziwecki; seasonal businesses have also shown increased booking activity as visa workers and seasonal staff prepare to arrive for another busy year, according to Christine Cyr, executive director of Chamber.
Cape Cod's geographical position keeps its landscape evolving constantly, which makes for an intriguing destination. Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary features cliffs that rework marine sediments eroded from farther up the Cape by wind and tide erosion processes; similar processes also created the islands and shoals at Provincetown at its extreme end of Cape Cod.
Changes both natural and man-made have shaped Cape culture as well. From historic stately homes and sites to beaches and nature trails to its vibrant nightlife scene; even exploring Wampanoag heritage through Squanto who welcomed the Pilgrims to Plymouth when they arrived in 1620 is possible here. Today's artists and creatives still draw from its rich past when creating art or other creative projects here.
Boston
Boston residents know the arts are an integral component of vibrant community life, whether visiting the Museum of Fine Arts or attending free concerts at SummerStage. Many who received pre-K to grade 12 arts education continue participating as artists, performers or audience members throughout their lives. Boston's internationally recognized art institutions host innovative exhibitions and productions that spark lively discussions of society, politics and aesthetics.
Institute of Contemporary Art, or ICA, opened its doors for business in 1936. Since 2006, when Boston's Seaport District became an upscale business and residential hub, ICA expanded their reach by hosting one large exhibition each summer as well as various smaller shows and events.
Boston is a hub of artistic culture, featuring everything from its legendary Symphony Orchestra to cutting-edge music groups and performing arts colleges that host student concerts by their graduates throughout the year. Additionally, its iconic Symphony Orchestra hosts its festive Holiday Pops concert series annually.
Urbanity Dance and Abilities Dance Boston specializes in exploring dance as activism; Subject: Matter Tap pushes the limits of choreography using interplay between music and movement; while theatregoers can watch original plays written by Boston playwrights at Fresh Ink Theater Company or attend performances by Boston Ballet.
The Berkshires is a gorgeous rural region located about 2.5 hours from Boston in western Massachusetts, known for its charming small towns and stunning scenery. Tourists flock here each fall when foliage season arrives; additionally, there's much cultural entertainment available like Norman Rockwell Museum, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and MASS MoCA to keep people busy during their visit.
A new project seeks to expand access to arts experiences for local schools through collaborations with area arts organizations. MCLA and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, with support from Barr Foundation, have announced the Creative Compact for Collective Impact initiative with hopes of breaking down barriers that prevent youth from engaging with arts and culture opportunities.
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